Rabbi gary phillip zola

Gary Phillip Zola is the Executive Director of The Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives (AJA) and Professor of the American Jewish Experience at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR) in Cincinnati. In his academic capacity, Professor Zola edits The Marcus Center's award-winning biannual publication, The American Jewish Archives Journal—one of only two academic periodicals focusing on the total historical experience of American Jewry.

8:00 pm - ShabbatService:PROFILES IN AMERICAN JEWISH COURAGEThe unfolding legacy of any North American congregation, organization, or association, consistently offers us an opportunity to reflect on the meaning of historical milestones and significant anniversaries In this first address typically delivered during worship services, Dr. Zola will illustrate how the American Jewish past invariably shapes our contemporary circumstances. He examines this topic by focusing on the biographies of three little known but genuinely fascinating American Jews. These “case studies” constitute genuine examples of American Jewish courage, and Dr. Zola will demonstrate how these biographies can be transformed into an inspiring lesson that sheds light not only on significance of local Jewish history but also on the lofty meaning of the American Jewish experience itself.

Saturday, December 6th

11:30 am - Potlucklunch following Shabbat service (Please bring a dish to share. Desserts will be provided by Lauren Levrant in memory of her grandfather Julius Turoff.)

1:00pm - GREAT VOICES, CIVIL RIGHTS, AND AMERICAN REFORM JUDAISM Have you ever wondered how some of the leading American rabbis handled pivotal world events from the pulpit 50, 60, or even 80 years ago? What did American rabbis say to their congregants from their pulpits about the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s and 1960s? Dr. Zola will address this question with the help of rare vocal recordings that document Jewish involvement in this remarkable epoch in American history. This session constitutes a special opportunity for you to hear a series of remarkable and rare vocal recordings (digitized with visuals added) of towering rabbinic voices, all of which come from the AJA's extraordinary historical collection. With the help of these captivating source documents, Dr. Zola will enable us to relive events that occurred more than a half century ago.

SundayDecember 7th

10:00 am to noon - “HE WAS ONE OF US!” – AMERICAN JEWRY’S RELATIONSHIP WITH ABRAHAM LINCOLN This session is based on Professor Zola’s brand new volume, We Called Him Rabbi Abraham: Lincoln and American Jewry (Carbondale, Illinois: Southern Illinois University Press, 2014). Few are aware of the remarkable history linking American Jewry and President Lincoln. Dr. Zola will explain why many of Lincoln’s personal and professional characteristics that have caused American Jews to embrace the sixteenth president as a man who possessed a Jewish soul. Lincoln’s remarkable human qualities offer American Jewry an uplifting legacy to ponder.